May 2014 runoff primary election and the impact on education in San Antonio

The results are in from the May 2014 runoff primary election. How will these results impact education in San Antonio, Bexar County, and Texas? What can we expect at the general election on November 4, 2014?

Dan Patrick defeated incumbent David Dewhurst for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor. “Patrick defeats Dewhurst”, David Saleh Rauf, San Antonio Express-News, May 27, 2014; “Tea Party Conservatives Win Top GOP Runoff Contests”, Brandi Grissom, Texas Tribune, May 28, 2014. Here is Patrick’s official site as State Senator for District 7 in Houston, and his campaign site. Patrick is known as a champion for school choice in the 2013 legislature, including his leadership on SB2, the charter school bill; read more in this earlier post, among others. In his new role, he could have a significant impact on committee appointments and the 2015 legislative agenda.

Dan Patrick

In November, Patrick will face Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor. Here is her official site as State Senator for District 26 in San Antonio, and her campaign site.

Hurd, Patrick, and Beltran are likely to be influential supporters of parental choice and innovative policies in education, and it’s good news that they advanced from the runoff primary to the November 2014 general election. Local observers, however, should carefully watch the appointment of the interim mayor—who may or may not run for a full term in the May 9, 2015 election. “‘Full-tilt boogie’ for mayor”, Brian Chasnoff, San Antonio Express-News, May 19, 2014; “A year away and it’s getting crowded”, Randy Bear, Bexar Left and Right, May 21, 2014. City council member Rey Saldaña is eligible for the appointment; this earlier post has my interview with Saldaña about his role at KIPP San Antonio.